How does the programme operate in France?
The Language Assistants Programme is a bi-lateral mobility programme. We work with our partner organisation, France Education International, to send English Language Assistants to primary and secondary schools in France and some of the French overseas territories (Outre-mer).
You can find a timeline of what to expect if you apply for France and/or Outre-mer in the lifecycle documents at the bottom of this page.
Am I eligible for a placement in France?
To be a Language Assistant in France, you must:
- fulfil the general eligibility criteria
- You must be aged 35 or under on 31 December 2025
- have B1-level French
As well as fulfilling all the general eligibility criteria, please note that our French partners France Education International also require candidates to meet the following:
1. You must demonstrate complete mastery of the English Language
2. You must have undertaken a minimum length of education in the UK - you must have completed one of the following:
- at least two years of an undergraduate degree OR
- a TEFL or CELTA course with at least two years of English Language Teaching OR
- at least one year of study of a Level 5 qualification (or above) through a Further Education institution/TVET college in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, OR
- at least one year of study of a Level 8 qualification (or above) through a Further Education institution/TVET college in Scotland.
3. You must have a UK/Irish/EU passport or a passport from one of France Education International’s programme partner countries
Do I need to do a video interview?
Only applicants who select Outre-mer (overseas territories) as their first-choice regional preference and are successful in their written application will be required to complete a video interview as part of the application process. This is due to the distinct nature of living and working in these regions and to ensure the most suitable candidates are selected.You will receive a link via email to complete your video interview.
Applicants not invited to complete a video interview for may be offered a transfer to another region in France or another destination as long as their application is of a high enough standard and meets the relevant destination requirements.
When will I start my placement?
Posts in France run from 1 October 2025 – 30 April 2026.
Will there be an induction course?
The relevant académie in France will invite you to an induction course, either at the end of September or in early October. For any training requiring an overnight stay, académies may help financially.
How many hours will I work per week?
Assistants in France can expect to work approximately 12 hours per week, with the option in some placements to add up to six hours per week. Please be aware that the number of hours and your specific timetable and working pattern can vary depending on the region and institution that you are allocated to.
What holidays will I have?
In France, the academic calendar runs from September to June. Typically, assistants can expect to receive the same school and national holidays as their institution.
What type of institution will I be working in?
All placements available in France are in primary and secondary schools.
How many posts are available in France?
Every year there are approximately 500 posts available in France. Undergraduates will be prioritised if they are participating in the programme as part of a compulsory period abroad. Candidates will be placed on a waiting list if they are not immediately successful in gaining a post.
Where can I go in France?
You will be able to pick one region from group A, one region from group B, and one region from group C. Please note that you will only be considered for Outre-Mer if Outre-Mer is your first choice.
By selecting a region in a given group you must be open to a placement anywhere within that region. For example, remember that Bordeaux refers to the whole region/académie of Bordeaux and not only the city of Bordeaux. A comments box will be available to add specific reasoning if you have a specific preferred place. Many of the posts are located in rural areas/ small towns and you should keep this in mind when applying.
Before making your group choices, please bear in mind:
- The areas listed in the groups above refer to regions (académies) and not to towns or cities which may share the same name. We have no control over the number of posts available in each académie, as this fluctuates yearly. We recommend that you research the académies before applying. Please note that the final decision of where you will be placed rests with our French partner organisation and the regional authorities, not the British Council.
- Flexibility is crucial. You should expect to be allocated anywhere within your group choice. Some candidates may not be awarded any of their three top option preferences. In these cases, we will make efforts to allocate candidates as closely as possible, geographically, to one of their original choices
- The cost of living in Outre-mer is higher than in mainland France, so the salary here will be approximately 40% higher. If Outre-mer is your first choice, you must be prepared to accept a post in any of the listed territories. Due to demand, you must also be prepared to accept a position in mainland France
- If your reason for choosing an area is that you have contacts and possible accommodation there, you must state the name of your host and address of the accommodation in the ‘Reasons for preferences’ section of the application form. Equally, we can take any other strong reasons for regional preferences into consideration, so long as you highlight it in your application rather than in later communications. All reasonable wishes for regional preferences, be these medical or otherwise, should be researched and explained as fully as possible on the application form, to ensure the best chance of a desired match. We cannot guarantee a post near your accommodation.
How much will I be paid?
You should expect to earn €1010.67 per month gross (before social security deductions). The net monthly pay is approximately €800-813.Those allocated to Outre-mer will receive around 40% more due to a higher cost of living. You will also be entitled to be covered by health insurance as a state employee.
Please note that our overseas partners and employing institutions are ultimately responsible for setting the salary of language assistants and this amount should therefore be treated as indicative and may be subject to change.
What are the costs involved?
Applicants should also be aware that there are significant costs associated with the visa process and moving to France. However, these costs should not come all at once as they will occur at different stages of the process, from visa application to arrival in France. Costs are likely to include:
- International Child Protection Certificate (£99)
- Visa application including administrative fees (approx. £55)
- Travel costs to and from visa centre
- Travel costs to placement location
In post (before receiving first payment)
- Accommodation costs including initial temporary accommodation and deposit for permanent accommodation in France
- Visa validation costs on arrival (€200)
- Costs for initial few months – You may not receive your first payment until late November, so you will need sufficient funds for this time. Previous assistants have recommended budgeting for at least two months without pay.
We encourage you to read more about the monthly allowance and how much money we recommend budgeting for France in section 8 of the destination guide (available at the bottom of this page).
Will I need a visa?
Assistants going to France who do not have an EU passport or a French residency permit will have to apply for the following:
- Long Stay Visa (VLS-TS - visa long séjour valant titre de séjour): Assistants will be exempt from the visa fee but a service charge of approximately £55 (GBP) is payable for the process.
- Taxe de Primo-Délivrance: Once in country, assistants will have to pay this tax to work in France and validate their working visa. The cost is €200 (EUR).
The specific language assistant visa long séjour valant titre de séjour does not allow language assistants to pursue official secondary employment in France.
Visa requirements can change at short notice, and the British Council cannot be held responsible for any changes to the visa process or to the approximate costs listed above which have been given as a guide only. If allocated a placement, you will receive the most up-to-date information for the processes. You should not apply until you have been instructed to do so by the team.
The French visa process is managed by TLS Contact and not the British Council. As an ELA you will apply for a Long Stay Visa (VLS-TS - visa long séjour valant titre de séjour). You may apply for a visa from early July as the process begins three months before your start date (1 October 2025). Your passport must also be valid for six months after your finish date as an ELA on the 30 April 2026 (October 2026) based on French governmental guidelines. Please contact the TLS Contact Centre in the first instance for additional queries and not the British Council.
I've worked as a Language Assistant in France - can I apply again?
Assistants currently working in France can re-apply for a consecutive year. This is not done through the British Council: apply directly by following the instructions on France Education international renewal site before the deadline as specified on this linked website.
Consecutive year assistants can ask to remain at the same school, or can request a change to their school or académie.
If you have previously been an Assistant in France but are not currently and would like to apply to the programme again, please follow the guidance for returning applicants.
Where can I get information about my placement from?
The guide for Language Assistants in France 2024-25 is available below. This information has been provided for reference and is subject to change each year. Updated guidance for Assistants going out on placement in 2025-26 will be available in summer 2025.
